Configuring a Geographical Area in SAS Law Enforcement Intelligence
Maps can be helpful. Until they are not. For example, an investigator is trying to search for activity in a specific district or neighborhood. The first search doesn’t return enough results, but the second search is so full of results that there are far more beyond the area than actually cared about. There is just too much information to sift through. That is why geographical areas matter in SAS Law Enforcement Intelligence.
The geographical areas feature allows administrators to configure predefined map boundaries using GeoJSON areas. Once those areas are set up, users can restrict geospatial searches to specific locations instead of manually clicking out to draw, remember or guess the right boundary each time. SAS describes this feature as a way for end users to limit geospatial searches to predefined geographic areas.
In practical terms, this gives the map structure. Areas like a specific patrol zone, district, or neighborhood boundary can be used. That makes map-based controls more useful because users no longer start from a blank canvas. They are working inside areas that already means something to the investigator.
The administrator ensures that areas are configured clearly and accurately. The GeoJSON file needs to represent the real-world boundaries the organization uses. The area should match places our investigators actually have an interest in. It should not make users think hard but rather help them move faster in how they interpret activity on a map.
In this post, you will see how an administrator configures geographical areas to be used in controls containing maps by intelligence users.
We use administration Properties to enter our areas.
The text tab is where the GeoJSON coordinates are added to plot two Dallas, Texas areas – North Dallas, and South Dallas.
North Dallas Coordinates
South Dallas Coordinates
Then when in the user interface, the investigator has the ability to choose the area from the selection right from the map. This example is an Advanced Search. When on the Area search tab, there is a field to select the area you want to search.
When clicked, the area list is displayed.
Here are the resulting maps of those plotted areas, when selected.
North Dallas Map
South Dallas Map
As you see, creating areas in SAS Law Enforcement Intelligence is fast and easy. They turn the map into more than a visual tool. They help users focus on specific areas, target needs, and find information that matters.
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